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PA Health Policy Update for Friday, November 4

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of October 31 to November 4, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Governor Wolf

Governor Wolf signed 66 bills into law this week and vetoed one, Senate Bill 736.  The following is a selection of health care-related bills signed into law by the governor.

  • House Bill 220, which is now Act 101 of 2022, specifies that a person does not need to test positive for drugs to begin addiction treatment.
  • House Bill 1393, which is now Act 111 of 2022, seeks to prevent overdose deaths by legalizing fentanyl test strips for personal use.
  • House Bill 2293, which is now Act 128 of 2022, requires the registration and oversight of contract health care service agencies that provide temporary employment in certain health care facilities.
  • House Bill 2527, which is now Act 135 of 2022, expands Pennsylvania’s “Good Samaritan” law to cover all opioid reversal medicines approved by the FDA.
  • House Bill 2800, which is now Act 143 of 2022, amends the Medical Practice Act to address an issue related to the licensure of prosthetists, orthotists, pedorthists, and orthotic fitters in Pennsylvania.
  • Senate Bill 225, which is now Act 146 of 2022, streamlines and standardizes the process for prior authorization of medical services.  The Insurance Department has issued a news release about this new law.
  • Senate Bill 522, which is now Act 150 of 2022, requires all pregnant women and children in Pennsylvania to receive blood tests to detect lead poisoning.

General Election

The 2022 general election will be held on Tuesday, November 8.  Pennsylvanians will be voting for one U.S. Senate seat, 17 U.S. House of Representatives seats, governor, half of the 50 state Senate seats, and all 203 state House seats.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has updated its guidance to hospitals’ response to COVID-19 to reflect the October 31 expiration of the COVID-19 state regulatory waivers and flexibilities. Find the updated guidance here.  At the same time, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has updated its list of regulations that have been suspended in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.  Find the updated list here and scroll down to see the latest regulation suspensions that have expired; they are highlighted in red.
  • DOH has issued a health advisory about the increase in the number of cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) nationally and in the state.  The alert describes the virus, outlines testing and treatment recommendations, and asks providers to report laboratory-confirmed RSV cases to DOH through Pennsylvania’s electronic reportable disease surveillance system,  PA-NEDSS.  It also urges providers to report outbreaks or clusters of severe respiratory illness, regardless of etiology, to the state and local health departments.  Find the advisory here.
  • DOH has issued a news release outlining the changes in the state’s regulations for skilled nursing facilities that have been approved by Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission and now await review by the state’s Attorney General.
  • DOH has released a request for applications for its Long-Term Care Quality Investment Pilot, which will distribute approximately $11.7 million in federal funds to long-term-care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, personal care homes, assisted living facilities, and intermediate-care facilities for the purpose of building resilience.  These funds are designed to be invested in key areas such as workforce development and retention, infection prevention control, emergency preparedness, and improvements to facility infrastructure.  To apply for this funding, facilities must participate in the state’s LTC RISE program’s quality improvement projects and cannot be located in Philadelphia.  Find the state’s request for applications here and learn about LTC RISE here.  The application deadline is December 31.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that Pennsylvania has received approval from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to extend its postpartum coverage period for mothers and birthing people eligible for Medicaid because of their pregnancy from 60 days to 12 months.  Learn more from this DHS news release.
  • DHS has extended into early January of 2023 its Remittance Advice calendar for mailing checks and electronically sending Medicaid payments.  Find the updated calendar here.
  • In response to the passage and signing of House Bill 1630 (now Act 98), which addresses, among other things, the delivery of some mental health and substance use services, DHS’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has written to stakeholders to advise them of some of the new law’s implications and to list the sections of the Pennsylvania Code the new law repeals.  Find the OMHSAS message to stakeholders here.
  • DHS has issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin advising providers who are not a recognized provider type under the Medical Assistance program that they now may enroll in the program for the purpose of billing for cost-sharing for services provided to beneficiaries who receive both Medicare and Medicaid.  This bulletin also provides information on how to complete and submit an enrollment application.  Find the bulletin here.
  • DHS has added a procedure code to the Medical Assistance fee schedule for the administration of a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.  Learn more from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS has issued Medical Assistance Bulletins addressing requirements for prior authorization and the type of information needed to evaluate the medical necessity of prescriptions for:

These requirements take effect on January 9, 2023.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • According to the CDC, the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Pennsylvania over the past week rose 12 percent after a decline of 12 percent the week before; the number of deaths rose slightly.  The state is averaging more than 1800 new reported cases a day and about 19 daily deaths.
  • According to the Department of Health, the number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized with COVID-19 and on ventilators because of the virus remains relatively steady but the number in hospital ICUs (172) is at its highest level since early March.
  • The CDC reports a modest increase in the seven-day rolling average of new daily COVID-19 hospital admissions after a 15 percent decrease last week.
  • As of November 4, 54 Pennsylvania counties are experiencing high rates of community transmission of COVID-19; 13 are experiencing substantial rates of community transmission; and Cameron County is experiencing a moderate rates of community transmission.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Health – State Child Death Review Team – November 9

The Department of Health’s State Child Death Review Team will hold a public meeting in Harrisburg on Wednesday, November 9 at 10:00.  The state’s Child Death Review Program provides training and technical assistance to local Child Death Review teams.  This meeting will focus on suicide deaths.  For information about the location of the meeting and the Child Death Review Team, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – December 7

The managed long-term services and supports subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet in Harrisburg on Wednesday, December 7 at 10:00.  Interested parties can join the meeting in person or via webinar.  For information about the location of the meeting and how to join virtually, see this DHS notice.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – December 7

The consumer subcommittee of DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, December 7 at 1:00.  Go here to register to participate.

DHS – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – December 8

DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, December 8 at 10:00.  Go here to register to participate.

 

2022-11-04T20:15:28+00:00November 4th, 2022|COVID-19, Medical Assistance Bulletin, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid coronavirus|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for Friday, November 4
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PA Health Policy Update for Friday, May 27

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of May 23-27, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

General Assembly

  • The Senate unanimously passed House Bill 889, which authorizes the State Board of Nursing to approve graduates of international nursing education programs to sit for the RN licensure examination provided that such international programs are determined to be equivalent to that which is required in Pennsylvania.  The bill will now be sent to the governor.
  • The Senate passed Senate Bill 848 by a vote of 35-12.  This legislation creates a Chief Nursing Officer position in the Department of Health.  The bill will now be sent to the House for consideration.
  • The House unanimously passed House Bill 1644, which directs the Department of Human Services to develop an escalation process to place Medicaid patients with behavioral health or long-term-care needs in an appropriate care setting.  The bill now will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
  • The House unanimously passed House Bill 2530, which ends the practice of prudent pay in the Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs.  The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.
  • The House Insurance Committee favorably reported House Bill 2585, which prohibits the Department of Human Services from developing or using bidding or service zones that limit a health service corporation or hospital plan corporation contractor from submitting a bid.
  • The Senate Banking & Insurance Committee favorably reported House Bill 2419, which expands access to outpatient psychiatric care via telemedicine.
  • The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee released a report on the Pennsylvania CARE Act (Act 20 of 2016) and its impact on patient outcomes.  Find the report’s highlights here and the full report here.

Independent Fiscal Office

The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) has revised its revenue estimate for the current fiscal year, increasing it to $47.7 billion, a $5.8 billion increase over its initial estimate.  According to the IFO, revenue in most categories, including corporate net income tax, sales tax, and personal income tax, exceeded projections.  The IFO also cautioned that the state will likely see reduced revenue collections in future years.  Find the IFO’s full report here and a PowerPoint presentation of its initial FY 2023 revenue estimate here.

Office of the Attorney General

The Office of the Attorney General released a report on the significant increase in fentanyl importation and use across the commonwealth.  The report highlights the Bureau of Narcotics Investigations’ seizure of more fentanyl in the first three months of 2022 than it seized in all of 2021.  The report recommends weighing the costs and benefits of legalizing fentanyl test strips to combat the increase in overdoses and continuing to make access to substance use disorder treatment a priority. Find the full report viewed here.

Department of Human Services

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has issued an alert updating previously released information about monkeypox in the U.S. and elsewhere and offering information for clinicians and the public, including links to additional resources.  Find the alert here.
  • DOH has notified skilled nursing facilities that they will no longer be permitted to hire temporary nurse aides after June 6, 2022 due to the expiration of a CMS waiver related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  That waiver enabled nursing facilities to hire nursing assistants who had not yet passed the skills and written portions of the state nurse aide examination.  In addition, nurse aides hired under the waiver must pass the skills and written portions of the state nurse aide examination by October 6 or they cannot continue to work in that capacity.  Go here to read the letter explaining this change.
  • DOH has published its final set of proposed amendments to the state’s long-term-care facility regulations.  Learn more about the changes that have been proposed and the process DHS intends to use to move from proposed to final regulations from this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts climbed for the ninth consecutive week, rising seven percent, from a seven-day average of 3971 new daily cases on May 18 to 4238 new daily cases on May 25.
  • The seven-day average of COVID-19-related deaths tripled, from 12 to 36.
  • The growing number of COVID-19 cases in the state led to an 11 percent increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations in the past week.
  • The number of these patients on ventilators, on the other hand, declined 19 percent over the past week while the number in hospital intensive care units rose 12 percent.
  • Sixty-four of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are currently experiencing high rates of community transmission of COVID-19, leaving three counties experiencing “only” a substantial rate of community transmission.

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4)

PHC4 has published a new report on the number of cancer-related surgeries performed in Pennsylvania during the state’s 2021 fiscal year.  Go here to learn about the report and find a link to the report itself.

Stakeholder Events

DHS – Medical Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports Subcommittee – June 1

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and supports subcommittee will be held virtually on Wednesday, June 1 at 10:00.  There will be an opportunity to submit questions and offer comments.  Go here to register to participate or dial in at 415-655-0052, access code 498030891#.

DHS – Office of Long-Term Living – Financial Management Services Stakeholder Meeting – June 3

DHS’s Office of Long-Term Living will hold a financial management services stakeholder meeting on Friday, June 3 at 1:00.  The purpose of this virtual meeting is to discuss upcoming changes for the administration of financial management services under the Community HealthChoices, OBRA Waiver, and Act 150 programs.  Representatives from the Office of Long-Term Living and Community HealthChoices managed care organizations will discuss upcoming changes.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Human Services – Long-Term Care Learning Network/Nursing Facilities – June 23

DHS’s Long-Term Care Learning Network, part of its quality strategy for nursing facilities, is offering in collaboration with the Community HealthChoices managed care organizations and the Jewish Healthcare Foundation a “learning collaborative” webinar in which participants in past Long-Term Care Learning Network events share information about best practices for avoiding hospitalizations from nursing homes.  The webinar will be held on Thursday, June 23 at 2:00 and the deadline to sign up to share best practices is June 1.  For further information about the webinar, sharing best practices, and participating virtually, go here.

2022-05-27T20:41:50+00:00May 27th, 2022|COVID-19, Medicaid supplemental payments, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania Medical Assistance|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for Friday, May 27
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PA Health Policy Update for the Week of March 14-18

The following is an update of selected state health policy developments in Pennsylvania for the week of March 14-18, 2022.  (Some of the language used below is taken directly from state documents.)

Redistricting Update

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has denied several appeals of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s (LRC) final state legislative district maps.  The maps will now be in place for the next decade.  The Supreme Court also modified the election calendar for petition circulation so legislative candidates will circulate petitions from March 18 to March 28.

General Assembly

  • The General Assembly concluded its FY 2023 budget hearings this week.  The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ presentation before the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday was the last health-related budget hearing.  A recording of the hearing can be found here.  If you would like to view any of the past budget hearings, you can find the Senate hearings here and the House hearings here.
  • The state House of Representatives cancelled voting session next week because of the modified election calendar for petition circulation.  The House and Senate will return to session the week on March 28.

Department of Health

  • The Department of Health (DOH) has asked hospitals to complete a survey from the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee on the designation of a family caregiver for hospital inpatients.  For information about the survey and a link to the survey itself, go here.  DOH and the committee ask hospitals to complete the survey by March 31.
  • DOH has published the third of four planned packages of proposed amendments of the state’s nursing home regulations.  These proposals address matters such as initial licensure and renewal, change in ownership, location, emergency preparedness, reportable diseases, and others.  Find the proposed changes in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.  Written comments are due within 30 days of the proposed regulations’ March 19 publication; see the bulletin notice for information about how to submit comments.
  • DOH has shared with the state’s health care providers two documents recently updated by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:  updated guidance on nursing facility visiting, testing, and quarantine policies and an update to CMS guidance for nursing facilities on compliance with the federal rule requiring vaccination of staff and residents.
  • DOH continues to sponsor COVID-19 testing sites in six counties across the state.  Go here for updated information about the sites and their hours.

Department of Human Services

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) has updated its calendar for delivering Remittance Advices and corresponding checks to extend into early May.
  • DHS has updated the Medical Assistance fee-for-service fee schedule with new procedure codes for the administration of the MenQuadfi® and Vaxelis® vaccines effective for dates of service on and after June 1, 2021.  For details, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.
  • DHS has updated the Medical Assistance fee-for-service fee schedule to reflect increased fees for the administration of ten COVID-19 monoclonal antibody products effective May 6 and has end-dated procedure code M0239 effective April 16, 2021.  Find the details in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

COVID-19:  By the Numbers

  • Daily COVID-19 case counts continue to fall.  A week ago the state’s seven-day average of new cases was 1108 cases a day; yesterday (March 17) it was 751 cases a day.
  • The number of new COVID-19-related deaths is following the same downward trend:  Pennsylvania’s seven-day average of deaths was 40 deaths a day a week ago but was 32 deaths a day yesterday (March 17).
  • The decline in the number of Pennsylvania counties experiencing higher rates of community transmission of COVID-19 continues.  Last week, seven counties were in the highest rate of community transmission of COVID-19 cases; this week, none are.  Last week, 37 counties were experiencing a substantial rate of community transmission; this week, 21 are.  Last week, 23 counties were experiencing only a moderate rate of community transmission; this week, 46 are.
  • This week marked the first time since August 5 that the number of Pennsylvanians being treated on a ventilator for COVID-19 fell into double digits.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has awarded $1.3 million in funding to expand drop-in center services for individuals with substance use disorder in areas of the state experiencing high numbers of overdose deaths.  Learn about the challenges the funding seeks to address, how the money will be used, and what organizations received the grant funding in this news release.

Office of the State Fire Commissioner

The Office of the State Fire Commissioner issued guidance this week for the EMS COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program.  Established by Senate Bill 739 (Act 10), this program will provide $25 million to support Pennsylvania’s EMS companies.  The guidance details eligible EMS companies and the certification process necessary to receive the funds.

Stakeholder Events

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Consumer Subcommittee – March 23

The consumer subcommittee of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, March 23 at 1:00 p.m.  Go here to register to attend.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – March 24

DHS’s Medical Assistance Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, March 24 at 10:00 a.m.  Go here to register to attend.

Department of Health – Advisory Health Board – March 31

The Department of Health’s Advisory Health Board will meet virtually on Thursday, March 31 at 10.00 a.m. to discuss programmatic and departmental activities.  This meeting was a previously scheduled for March 16.  For information about how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice, which has the original, superseded meeting date but still has the latest information on how to participate in the meeting.

Department of Health – Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board – March 30

The Department of Health’s Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Board will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.  The agenda will include discussions about board member terms; updates from the Bureau of Family Health and the RUSP workgroup; a discussion on pyruvate dehydrogenase; and updates from the Ethics, Lysosomal Storage Disorders/X-ALD, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemoglobinopathy, and Critical Congenital Heart Defects subcommittees.  Learn how to join the meeting in this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Health – Health Research Advisory Committee – April 4

The Department of Health’s Health Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Monday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m. to review the committee’s work, confirm its 2022 priorities, plan future health research priorities, and address emerging issues.  To learn more about the meeting and how to participate, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

Department of Human Services – Medical Assistance Advisory Committee – Managed Long-Term Services and Supports subcommittee – April 5

The Medical Assistance Advisory Committee’s managed long-term services and supports committee will meet virtually on Tuesday, April 5 at 10:00 a.m.  Public comments will be taken after each presentation.  Questions can be entered into the meeting’s chat box during the presentations and will be asked at the end of each presentation.  There will be an additional period at the end of the meeting for additional public comments.  Go here to register to participate.

Department of Health – Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee – April 21

The Department of Health’s Spinal Cord Research Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m.  The purpose of this meeting is to review the committee’s work, review the status and progress of the current request for applications, reaffirm priorities, evaluate and refine the process to review the next spinal cord research applications, and address emerging issues.  For information about how to join the meeting, see this Pennsylvania Bulletin notice.

 

2022-03-18T21:10:08+00:00March 18th, 2022|Coronavirus, COVID-19, HealthChoices, Meetings and notices, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Pennsylvania Medicaid, Pennsylvania Medicaid policy, Pennsylvania proposed FY 2023 budget|Comments Off on PA Health Policy Update for the Week of March 14-18
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  • 2020 Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania

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